HOME MATCH v BANKS 0’DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2024 – KO 3pm
A bumper edition this week sportsfans, and we start with a couple of new signings both of whom featured in last week’s Scottish Cup tie against Sauchie Juniors. Although they are new signings both know their way about Seafield Park, as they have both been with us before.
WELCOME BACK STEPHEN
We are delighted to announce the signing of Stephen Rennie.
The 27-year-old left back has been training with us over the past few weeks and has impressed as a trialist in a couple of games, notably our recent 3-3 draw with Nairn County.
Stephen brings a wealth of experience, having spent eight years in the Inverness CT youth academy, which included loan spells at Fort William and Rothes. He’s no stranger to Strathspey Thistle, having previously joined us in 2019 and spent three years with the club, concluding with a loan spell at North Caledonian League club Inverness Athletic. Since then, he had a short spell at Nairn County, rejoining Inverness Athletic and more recently spent time at Loch Ness.
Manager Ryan Esson shared his thoughts: “Stephen has impressed us with his energy and versatility. With our struggles in left-sided defence due to injuries, he’ll provide the much-needed cover in that area. I’m confident he’ll be a valuable addition to our squad, bringing both defensive strength and attacking flair.”
Want to support Stephen for the season? To sponsor him, drop us a message on social media or email us at strathyjagscommercial@outlook.com
WELCOME BACK KEIRAN
We are also thrilled to announce the signing of Kieran Chalmers, a talented 23-year-old midfielder!
Kieran started his youth career at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and has since gained valuable experience through loan spells with Forres, Clach, and Fort William. He’s no stranger to Strathspey, having spent two years with us back in 2020 before rejoining Clach.
Manager Ryan Esson said: “I worked with him when he was younger, so he knows what I want and expect from him in the team. I’m delighted to have him join us, and he’s already building good relationships with the rest of the squad.”
We’re delighted to welcome Kieran back to Strathspey Thistle.
Want to support Kieran for the season? To sponsor him, drop us a message on social media or email us at strathyjagscommercial@outlook.com
SATURDAY’S MATCH v BANKS O’DEE FC
After all last week’s Scottish Cup hoopla we welcome the players, committee and supporters of Banks O’Dee F.C. for our meeting in the Breedon Highland League. Following on from their successful cup tie with Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Border Country last week, a trip we made last year but not as successful, the Dee will be making their way over the hill from Aberdeen to Seafield Park.
They have had a successful September winning four out of five of their games in all competitions, and enjoyed a good win on Wednesday against an Aberdeen FC select in the Aberdeenshire Cup so our meeting on Saturday will be another very difficult game but as we continue to generally improve and if we can cut out the defensive mistakes we hope that it will be a right good competitive game o’ fitba.
Hopefully both sets of fans will enjoy the game and if any of the Banks O’Dee supporters want a resumé of what is available here in Grantown please click here for more information.
LAST SATURDAY’S CUP TIE v SAUCHIE JRS FC – report by Ian Davidson edited for the web – full match report in the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald – https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk
Our participation in this season’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup campaign ended at the first time of asking when we lost to East of Scotland League Premier Division side Sauchie Juniors at Seafield Park.
Home fans were hoping the Jags would continue their progress after a couple of good results and an noticeable improvement in our on-field performances.
We lined up with two enforced changes from the side that had done so well at Nairn with Ethan Rae making his Scottish Cup debut replacing the unavailable Euan Storrier between the sticks, while Conor MacPhee returned from injury and having to play in defence in place of the injured Cameron Lisle.
After twenty minutes, with both sides evenly matched, the deadlock was broken in sensational style when Sauchie’s Stuart McDowall took a deft touch to control before smashing a superb 25-yard drive high into the postage stamp corner for the opener. The home side countered and a strike from Paul Brindle brought a fine near post save from Sauchie keeper Sean Robertson as the home side looked to get back on level terms.
The Jags went further behind with 13 minutes of the first period remaining when we fell foul to a linesman’s controversial decision who decreed that the ball had crossed the goal line after keeper Ethan Rae had parried a close range shot.
After 55 minutes, it was the visitors who effectively killed the tie as a contest when Mark Smith headed home following a free kick on the right touchline.
Jag’s substitute new signing Kieran Chalmers tested the Sauchie keeper with a dipping 20 yard drive that he held confidently and minutes later Brindle weaved his way to the byeline and only a fine challenge from Thomson denied Filip Franczak getting a shot away.
Sauchie then added a fourth after 65 minutes and added two more in the final ten minutes.
It was another disappointing performance in the Scottish Cup and we now have to wait until next season for our next challenge.
Having reviewed the game head coach Ryan Esson thought that the score was a bit hefty as we had not played as the score suggested. Here at the Jag’s website the opinions were that we had matched the visitors for the first twenty minutes or so and we had not taken chances when we we had created them, and with five centre halves on the injury list it was inevitable that defensively we would find it difficult to contain a very good team.
We wish Sauchie Juniors all the best in the second round which has pitched them against Buckie Thistle in what should be a very tight affair.
SATURDAY’S MAN OF THE MATCH – FILIP FRANCZAK
Congratulations to – Filip Franczak – pictured with Sporting Director, Josh Horton.
Filip is sponsored by the Grant Arms Hotel
DAD AND SON FOOTY ADVENTURES
Last Saturday, for the second time this year, we were visited by Dad and Son Footy Adventures aka Dean and his sons Reece and Coby and we were really chuffed at their recollections of their experiences here at Seafield Park. You can read all about their visit on their facebook page – address below. We managed to get a quick pic of them all after the game with our committee member Graeme Stuart. Hopefully we will welcome them back to Grantown sometime soon…..
YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@dadandsonfootyadventures1170
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089358692160
THE CLAYMORE BAR AND YVONNE
As she was retiring from Grantown’s Claymore Bar last Friday night, Jags’ chairman Donly ‘Digger” McLeod, with the help of Mags Clark, presented some gifts to Yvonne Woolley in appreciation of all the help and exceptionally generosity she has shown The Jags over many years.
Every customer entering The Claymore knew that Yvonne’s welcome was always going to be warm and friendly.
We wish her and partner Jags’ season ticket holder Davie, all the best for the future – and it will aways be a pleasure seeing them at Seafield Park.
MACKELLAR SUITE HOSPITALITY
A couple of pics of our new hospitality suite, taken before our guests arrived last Saturday.
As reported earlier in the week it was a very successful opening.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY NEXT WEEK’S GAME IS ALSO AT HOME v INVERURIE LOCOS
£7900 TO BE WON – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE
LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7900 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly.
The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).
- The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw.
- If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players.
- Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100.
- THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
- The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
- All winners will be notified.
We wish Ryan, Don, Robbie, Beccy and the boys all the best for Saturday – see y’all next week.